Virginia continues to be a fertile recruiting ground and the Michigan coaches have tried to take full advantage of that with varying levels of success. The latest talent to receive an offer from Michigan out of The Old Dominion State is 2015 DE/LB Clelin Ferrell. With his frame Ferrell could play a few different positions at the next level (likely SAM or WDE). Ferrell told me about how he talked to Coach Manning and how the offer materialized.

Well my coach wanted me to give Coach Manning a call today so I did. He explained the situation to me and offered me. For now he said the offer could be for defensive end or linebacker depending on how I develop. Man, Coach Manning is a great dude who keeps it real. He knows how to relate because of how young he is.

Every time I talk to a recruit about Coach Manning they gush about how relatable he is and how comfortable he makes them feel. Clelin went on to give some details about what he and Coach Manning spoke about.

I learned a lot from Coach Manning about Michigan beyond just the tradition and the importance of rivalries. He just tried to teach me about this whole process and how to make it easier on myself. He also talked to me just about life in general. He was real cool to talk to.

Clelin also spoke highly of Coach Hoke and Coach Mattison as well.

I met Coach Hoke and he was a really nice guy too. He knows a lot about my position so I liked that. I haven’t been able to meet Coach Mattison yet but we definitely know who each other is.

Once I learned of the offer to Ferrell I tweeted about it and a few followers noticed his LSU background. People probably put too much emphasis on stuff like that, but I asked him about it anyway.

They aren’t my team or anything and I wouldn’t like commit if they offered. LSU is just the school I watched a lot growing up. Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery are my favorite d-line tandem to ever play college.

Ferrell told me that he will definitely visit Michigan sometime in June but he has not set a date yet. He also says that he hopes Michigan stays aggressive while recruiting him in order to stay in the mix until the end of his recruitment. As for how his recruitment will end, he had a refreshing take on how he’ll make a decision.

When I’m ready to choose, I’ll choose. I’m not going to hold out just to be on TV for signing day.

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I really enjoyed talking with Clelin; he seemed very mature and composed. His film is very impressive as well. He is a raw, athletic talent at this point and with a college weight lifting program and position-specific coaches, he could become a freak of a pass-rusher. He’s lanky and explosive and moves like a Jason Taylor-type rush end. Michigan appears to be in good shape for him and if that visit happens in June the Wolverines could remain high on his list throughout.

Edit: HOLY CRAP!!! Now that I have seen the film, Wow! Not just "fast for a big guy" but FAST. Disciplined. Instinctual. Incredible motor and seems to always be in the right place. Plays like he has a high football IQ. Very glad the offer was made early.

is the level of competition in his league/area? Some of those teams looked like they were way below the talent level (and size) of Ferrell's team. He flew to the ball barely touched most of the time - he blew right by everyone!

Am an alumnus of the school I'll note that the private school competition in VA is really uneven. Many of these schools will produce legit players- Benedictine has other BCS-level players, Woodberry Forest has sent guys to ND and Stanford recently, Collegiate is sending a QB to the good guys (and sent one to the current Super Bowl champs), and St. Chris has some BCS-caliber guys on their current team. Benedictine doesn't typically play them, but the Long brothers (Chris and Kyle, not Jake and John) also came through the Prep League at St. Anne's- Belfield. But as overall programs, none can compete with big public schools. I shudder to think what would have happened to my Cadets against Derrick Green's Hermitage team, for instance.

That said (and at the risk of arguing against a point no one has made), I'm confident that the coaches know how to account for competition level on these tapes, especially since the advent of all of the camps, combines, etc. that the current kids go through. Very excited for Ferrell to have a Michigan offer- it looks like he will be an asset wherever he ends up.